A UFC Lightweight title bout between the former champion Anthony Pettis and former top contender TJ Grant was targeted for this event. However, Grant revealed in mid-September that he has yet to be medically cleared after suffering a concussion in training and would not be eligible to compete on December 14 and opted to decline the bout. Pettis was then expected to face Josh Thomson in the event headliner. However, on November 10, 2013, it was announced that Pettis was injured and the bout was cancelled. The new main event was a rematch for the Flyweight title between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez. Co-featured on the card was a bout between top bantamweight contenders Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald. Ian McCall was expected to face Scott Jorgensen at the event. However, McCall was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by John Dodson. Then on December 3, Dodson himself was forced from the bout after sustaining a knee injury. Jorgensen instead faced former Bellator Bantamweight ChampionZach Makovsky. Jamie Varner was expected to face Pat Healy at this event. However, Varner pulled out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Bobby Green Kelvin Gastelum was expected to face Court McGee at this event. However, Gastelum pulled out of the bout, citing an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Ryan LaFlare. John Moraga was expected to face Darren Uyenoyama at the event. However, Moraga pulled out of the bout with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alptekin Özkılıç. Carlos Condit was expected to face Matt Brown in a welterweight bout on the main card. However, on December 7, 2013, it was announced that Brown had to pull out of the bout due to herniated discs in his back. Sources close to the promotion on Saturday, December 7, 2013, told MMAjunkie no replacement was sought to meet Condit on the card, thus removing the fight entirely from the event. This was the first MMA event held at the Sleep Train Arena since WEC 48 on April 24, 2010, where Johnson, Faber, Mendes and Jorgensen also fought. Faber headlined or co-headlined each of the arena's previous four MMA events.
Results
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses.
Fight of The Night: Edson Barboza vs. Danny Castillo
Knockout of The Night: Demetrious Johnson
Submission of the Night: Urijah Faber
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the UFC and also do not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.
Demetrious Johnson: $175,000 def. Joseph Benavidez: $42,000
Urijah Faber: $200,000 def. Michael McDonald: $17,000
Chad Mendes: $90,000 def. Nik Lentz: $29,000
Joe Lauzon: $60,000 def. Mac Danzig: $32,000
Ryan LaFlare: $20,000 def. Court McGee: $10,000
Edson Barboza: $52,000 def. Danny Castillo: $31,000
Bobby Green: $36,000 def. Pat Healy: $25,000
Zach Makovsky: $20,000 def. Scott Jorgensen: $26,000
Sam Stout: $60,000 def. Cody McKenzie: $12,000
Abel Trujillo: $20,000 def. Roger Bowling: $12,000
Alptekin Ozkilic: $16,000 def. Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000
